Khaberni - Leader of the "State of Law Coalition" and former Prime Minister of Iraq, Nouri al-Maliki emphasized on Monday that he does not intend to withdraw his candidacy for the presidency of the government following the United States' threat of imposing sanctions on Iraq.
Al-Maliki told "Agence France-Presse": "I have no intention of ever withdrawing, out of respect for the state to which I belong and its sovereignty and will, and it is not anyone's right to tell us not to choose this person or to elect that person."
The leader of the "State of Law Coalition" added that the Coordination Framework "agreed on this nomination. Therefore, out of respect for the position, I will not withdraw. I have mentioned in many statements, there is no withdrawal and will pursue till the end."
He also affirmed his commitment to restrict arms to the state's hands, stating, "Yes, there is pressure from the American side, and multiple messages have been sent which have settled recently on demands concerning the state. In truth, America has brought nothing new. These are our demands. We want the arms in the hands of the state. We want centralization of military power. We have repeatedly said: we want one army under one command, acting directly under the state’s orders, without diversification in the administration of the existing arms."
Al-Maliki expressed his rejection of any encroachment on diplomatic missions in Iraq, stating: "We will not allow any confrontation against any country with diplomatic presence, or any embassies in Iraq by any other parties. Let all nations be reassured that we prevent any encroachment on their embassies or their accredited official interests in Iraq."
Iraqi sources stated that the Coordination Framework, which formulates the largest block in the Iraqi parliament mostly composed of prominent Shia parties close to Iran, will hold a meeting on Monday evening to discuss the nomination of Nouri al-Maliki for the presidency of the government amid indications that the majority of the members are leaning towards withdrawing his candidacy and agreeing on an alternative name.
Informed political sources reported on Sunday that the leader of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, insists that any decision to withdraw his candidacy for the new stalled government must be issued exclusively by the majority leaders of the Coordination Framework, not as a result of external pressure.
A responsible source within the Coordination Framework also confirmed that the deadline given by the United States to the Shiite Coordination Framework to withdraw Nouri al-Maliki's candidacy from the presidency of the government will end on Sunday evening.
The "Coordination Framework," which includes Shia political forces ruling in Iraq, is divided regarding the nomination of al-Maliki for the upcoming government presidency amid American warnings about the consequences of his selection, which has led forces within the coalition to try to persuade him to withdraw in order to maintain the unity of the Framework.
On January 27, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to stop supporting Baghdad if al-Maliki returned to the presidency of the government, writing "I hear that Iraq might make a big mistake by re-electing Nouri al-Maliki as Prime Minister."
